ZABUL, AFGHANISTAN

09.09.2010

Courtesy Story

ZABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan-led security force retrieved a large cache of homemade explosives and improvised explosive device material in the Shawkhel village of Zabul province, Sept. 9.

The security team, led by the Afghan National Army recovered 40 to 45 pounds of HME and IED emplacement material as well as a letter revealing the name of the individual who emplaced the cache.

Upon further investigation and translation of the letter, it disclosed several names of suspected insurgents and more than 20 blasting caps and more than 150,000 Kaldar ($1,430 USD) implanted in the village.

The letter also provided a lead to a greater cache from which this IED and HME material originated, signifying the cache is meant for IED emplacement use in the Shin Kai area of Zabul province.

IED emplacement operations used by the insurgency are intimidation tactics meant to inflict death, strike fear toward elders and locals, gain establishment of defensive positions in the village, and initiate extensive taxation aimed at giving the Taliban tactical and monetary support.

“This is a successful seizure which yielded a large amount of IED materials, money and the names of other suspected insurgents,” said Lt. Neil Samson, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan. “The Afghan people deserve to live a normal life without fear of attacks from insurgent groups. Afghan-led forces are continuously tracking them and taking action before they’re able to carry out their plans.”